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Good Morning Vietnam

In 2008 Joel and I spent almost a month traveling Vietnam in its entirety. We started in the southernmost region of [south] Vietnam, and eventually wound up in the northernmost region of [north] Vietnam. From Can Tho in the Mekong delta, to the mountains of Lao Cai and Sapa (the frontier region bordering Myanmar, Laos and China) we traveled the country, cities and countryside alike. We visited with fisherman, business owners and the indigenous hill tribes of the H’mong. We spoke to veterans of the American War: Soldiers of the North Vietnamese Army, and the local Vietnamese militia known as the Viet Cong (formerly the Viet Minh). We met a former Viet Cong (Viet Minh) Colonel with the auspicious name of: Mr. Tiger—Mr. Tiger fought the French, then the Japanese, then the French again, then the Americans and finally the Chinese. Mr. Tiger had been fighting his entire life—he was in his mid to late 80’s when we were introduced. Although a multimillionaire, he was living in a small, bullet-riddled shack, on an island deep within the heart of the Mekong delta.

This photo was taken in Hanoi, [north] Vietnam. I awoke early, in our fourth story hotel room, and glimpsed out the window to see this sight: Hanoi waking up shortly after dawn—horns beeping, scooters, cars and trucks zooming around, and people on foot everywhere. Hanoi was coming alive right before my eyes. Only one word describes Vietnam: Magical.